Differential stage lift flow device



July 29,h 1941. A. BoYNToN DIFFERENTIAL STAGE LIF' FLOW DEVICE Filed Dec. 8, 1939 Fig. 7.

ALEXANDER BOY/WON,-

42' v ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 29, 1941 UNITED vSTATES PATENT OFFICE 2,250,464 DIFFERENTIAL STAGE LIFT FLOW DEVICE Alexander Boynton, San Antonio, Tex.

Application December 8, 1939, Serial No. 308,320

6 Claims.

My invention relates to differential flow 'de'- vices for wells, especially wells producing oil.

The principal object is to start and flow wellsA at relatively low pressures with comparativelyI low gas-liquid ratios. y

Another object is to employ for this purpose a device that will not admit pressure fluid in response to false differentials resulting from slippage in the eduction tube.

Another object is to provide a device for the purpose stated that utilizes pressure upon an area much greater than that of the valve "to control the movements of the valve. i

Still another object is to employ a device of few moving parts having large clearances adapted to be unaffected by the action of sand and other other Yplaces than where so cut, the section is thus distinguished to avoid possible confusion.

In Fig. 1,`the tubing nipple I, which may be a steel casting adapted to be threadedly joinedinto the well tubing, has the lateral projections Ia and Ib.I The anchor bushing 2 has threaded connection within the anchoring projection Ib and the foreign substances frequently present in pressure fluid and well liquid.

I attain these and other objects by means of a l metallic bellows secured at one end within a ving. In this connection, I employ a.check valve to prevent the valve controlling the flow of pressure fluid from being forced open by momentary pressure disturbances within the eduction tube; all of which will be clearly understood by an examination of the following specification and the accompanying drawing, in Which- Fig. 1 is mainly a longitudinal section throug the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2 2, Figfl. Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3 3, Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a partial longitudinal section through the first modified form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line 5 5, Fig. 4. Fig, 6 is a cross section `on the line 6 6, Fig. '7. Fig. 7 is a partial longitudinal section through the second modified form of the invention.

Similar reference characters are employed to designate similar parts throughout the several views.

The primed section 3 3' in Fig. 4 will be understood as being identical with the unprimed 'found satisfactory for these purposes.

.length without deforming.

connection bushing 4 is threadedly joined to said anchor bushing and to the bellows housing nipple 5, the upper end of which is closed by the plug I2. This plug has a recess in its upper end adapted to closely receive the stud I3 having threaded engagement through the extension Ia for the purpose of securing the members l and 5k in alignment with the tubing nipple I.

Housed within the nipple 5 isa metallic bellows 6, having slight clearance within the nipple 5.. Said bellws may be secured upon its upper connection 8 by the solder or weld 6a and likewise secured upon its lower connection] by the solder vor weld 6b. Bellowshaving an outside diameter of one to one and one half inches will be Within the bellows is a coiled spring II which has slight clearance over a depending extension 8a. of the member 8 and somewhat larger clearance with the bellows. This spring,'havingits ends engaged between the member 1 and the flange 8g of the member 8 may be installed under sufficient compression to normally stretch the bellows a distance equal t'o approximately one half of the travel of the valve 3a, which is mounted on the lower end of extension 8a. Such bellows may be compressed or stretched 15 per cent of its free If then the valve travel be inch, the spring II preferably should stretch the bellows 1% inch in order that it will section 3 3 bearing the same reference numer- 4anchor bushing 2, thus also the valve 3a is properly spaced from its seat 2b; while the lower end of the meteringfpin 3b, preferably, should be slightly within the opening 2a central of the an'- chor bushing.

The depending extension 8a, having threaded connection with the valve member 3, has the slight clearance la. through the member l. This clearance may be such as 1/64 to el@ inch.

The annular extension 8b of the member 8 has its central opening formed into the valve seat 8c adapted to be engaged by the check valve 9 confined by the cap il) threadedly engaged over the extension Bb. The head 8f may have the same clearance Within the nipple as the outer corrugations of the bellows have Within it.

Within the number 8 the recess 8h, they lateral openings 8e, and the longitudinal opening 8d provide communication between the interior of the bellows and the check valve S. The openings lila vent the chamber which contains this valve.

As the valve 3a approaches its seat 2b formed centrally above the opening 2a, the convexly tapered metering pin 3b, having the untapered portion 3d, will gradually reduce the clearance between it and the opening 2a, as is apparent. The greatest diameter of this pin in theuntapered portion'd immediately under the valve 3a may be'fonlyfslightly less than :the diameter of the opening 4 2a. The flow'of pressure fluid through ,thev device, therefore, is cut oi by a combined sleeve and DODDC valve. The convexly tapered meteringshank 3c has its' taper in the opposite direction from the otherwise similarly formed, but somewhat smaller, pin 3b. The lower end of the conve'xly. tapered shank 3c, normally opposite the-lower edge of the ange 2d, has slight clearance through' this ange. This clearance will increase as the valvemember 3 moves downward. The greatest .fiow of pressure fluid through the device,A therefore, will be when the valve 3a vis approximately half way of its travel, thisA being during the prevalence of onehalf the differential required to close that valve.

Compressed air or gas, herein referred to as pressure fluid, within the annular space between the tubing and the casing, causes the well liquid to form an upstanding column in the tubing. These devices discharge a predetermined quantity of pressure fluid into that column at predetermined differences between the force of the pressure fluid and the force exerted by the upapproximately one-half the diierential required to close the valves controlling flow thereof.

With the above in mind, the devices may be connected into the ow tubing at intervals varyling between 200 and 300 feet.

The path of the pressure fluid out of the annular space between the tubing and the casing and into the upstanding column of well liquid within the tubing is via the lateral intake openings da, the chamber 4b, the clearance between the flanged 2d and the metering shank 3c. the chamber 2e, the central longitudinal opening 2a, the chamber Ic, and the lateral opening Id.

While the device is intaking pressure fluid through the small openings 4a, the pressure within the chamber 4b will be less than the pressure obtaining within the chamber 5b, because the chamber 4b is vented into the tubing, as previously stated and as appears; while the chamber 5b has no outlet for the pressure fluid enterin g through the lateral openings 5a, this chamber, which contains the bellows, having its lower end closed by the member 1. The pressure within the chamber 5b and upon the outside of the bellows will be that of the pressure fluid in the annular space between the casing and the tub ing; while the lesser pressure within lthe chamber 4b communicates'with the interior of the bellows through the annular clearance 1a. It is apparent, therefore, that the differential force will act upon the bellows to compressit and at a predetermined value thereof to seat the valve 3a.

During this valves travel toward its seat, pressure fluid within the bellows must have free passage to escape therefrom if the valve movement is to be unimpeded. Such escape is provided for by the check valve 9, supplementing the restricted clearance 1a which, alone, would not allow the standing column. This difference between saidv i 4 is constant, except that of the upstanding column which exerts a different force at each different level therein.

'I'he pressure fluid control valves are normallyv open until closed by the differential.

Expulsion of well liquid from the eduction tube will be understood as accomplished by the expension of pressure fluid within the upstandlng column.

In order to produce constant well flow, the devices preferably will be adjusted to close their pressure fluid control valves at a differential somewhat greater than the force per square inch oi' a column of unaerated well liquid approximately twice as high as the devices are spaced apart; and in order that this flow will be uniform, the devices should be so constructed as to 'admit the greatest volume of pressure fluid at pressure fluid within the bellows to escape fast enough to allow the valve 3a to be quickly responsive to the differential valve closing force.

As the bellows is compressed, pressure fluid within it may escape through the openings 8e and 8d by raising the check valve 9, thus enabling the valve 3a to freely approach its seat.

Heretofore, the one greatest fault of automatic differential flowvalves has been that they would be forced open by temporary false differentials produced within the eduction tube by falling slugs caused by the breaking through of pressure fluid. Such disturbances occurring in the use of current types of'dlfferential flow valves force open all valves below where the disturbances occur; and once the lower valves are forced open, they admit enough pressure fluid to expel all liquid above them as a slug. I'he excessive pressure so admitted under such slugs will then force open each upper valve as the slugs pass. This condition, therefore, becomes more aggravated in deeper wells, in proportion to the greater number of flow devices employed to flow them; resulting in diminishing efficiency as the depth increases.

To overcome this improper opening of the pressure fluid valves, I employ the check valve 9 to retard the opening of the pressure uid valves until the temporary disturbances of false diierentials have subsided.

The devices herein shown will not have their pressure fluid control valves unseated by false low differentials, because the check valve 9 closes when the valve 3a unseats and the bellows attempts to elongate. At such time, there is no way for pressure fluid or well liquid to enter the bellows and produce therein the increased presis made responsive only to true diilerentials v which will cause the inilow of pressure iluid through the devices to be accurately metered to the liquid load by the4 undisturbed action of the metering pin 3b co-acting with the opening 2a and by the metering shank 3c co-acting with the governor flange 2d, as was explained.

The baille 2c, by directing the Inowing pressure uid into the chamber '4b. prevents abrasivesubstances in the pressure lluid from cutting the lvalve member 3 and its metering pin and shank,

as is apparent.

In .this connection, it vshould be observed that' the openings da should be no larger than required to admit the proper volume of pressure uid to ow the well, because if these openings be too large, the pressure within the chamber 5b will be unnecessarily great and will impart excessive pressure to the interior of the bellows.

In Fig. 4, illustrating the first modiiled form of the invention, the bellows upper connection It has a depending extension Ida, vhaving the longitudinal opening Idb and the lateral openings idc and Idd.

upon the internal annular .shoulder 23a. The nipple' 5. threadedly connected with the bushing 23, has its upper'end closed by the plug I2 into which the stud I3 extends, as in the-previous embodiments. The lower end connection I9 has an external recess into ywhich the lower securing stud I8 extends from its threaded engagement within the projection IIa for the purpose of co-acting with the stud I3 in securing alignment of the tubular assembly with the tubing nipple I1.

The bellowslower connection 24, threadedlyengaged within the bushing 23, is secured upon the bellows 6 by the solder or weld 6b similar to the manner that the bellows -upper end connection 25 is secured to the bellows by the solder or weld 6a. 'Ihe connection 25 has a depending extension 25a, the lower end of which is threadedly joined tothe valve member 3.. The coiled This band formed to t snugly over the 'extensi on Ida, and covering the lateral openings 95d, has a slight opening I5a between its ends (see Fig. 5), and receives the rivets It through small openings in its middle portion. The other end of each rivet has its head within the opening Ia. This spring check valve will open and allow iluid to escape freely out of the bellows on the down stroke of the valve da, but' will close on the upstroke to retard the opening of the valve 3a in a manner similar to the action of the check valve 9 in Fig. 1, and for the same purpose.

In this construction, the governor flange 2d and the metering shank 3c as shown in Fig. 1 are omitted. The metering pin 3b in Fig. 4,

therefore, will throttle the iiow oi pressure iiuid.

in suchmanner as to provide for the greatest iiow thereof through the device during the prevexternally threaded. boss 23c 'of the connection bushing 23 is connected, the washer 22 being employed to make the connection hermetic. The lower anchoring projection Ila is similar to the upper projection Ia. Except for the addition of the boss 2l and the projection IIa, the tubing nipple I1 in Fig. 'I is the same as the nipple I in Figs. 1 and 4.

The bushing 23 has its lower end threadedly joined over the lower end connection I9 which hasits upper end engaged under the metering 4sleeve 20 pressed into the bushing 23 and landed spring Ii,having slight clearance over the exten-v sion 25a and within the bellows 6, has its lower end landed upon an annular shoulder withinthe connection 24 and its upper end engaged under an enlargement of 'the extension 25a. This spring serves the same purpose here as in Figs. l and 4.

The metering sleeve 20, having its interior convexly tapered to form the chamber 2da, has its upper end normally opposite the upper end of the untapered central enlargement of the valve member 3 with which it has slight vclearance. This position is caused by the normal engagement of the plug I2 lwith the plug 3@ which latter plug also hermetically .closes the opening through the upper end of the member 25.

It is apparent that the metering relation between the valve member 3 and the metering sleeve 2l), co-acting with the convexly tapered pin 3b in its relation with the opening 2a will allow the greatest volume of. pressure iiuid to pass through the device at approximately Aone half the diierential force required to seat the valve 3a 'upon its seat 2b.

, supported by the ball rest 2l, is resiliently urged to normally close the central opening4 Zta of the housing plug 28 by force of the slight coiled spring 29, having small clearance with the surrounding wall. The member 2l has somewhat larger ,clearance with this wall in order to allow free passage of fluid.

As the bellows is compressed, the check valve' 26 is unseated by fluid escaping downward lthrough the openings 25o, 25d, and 25h. The

valve 3d being seated,` it will not be suddenly forced open, however, by falling slugs of well liquid, because during the elongating movement of the bellows, the check valvel 2B will remain closed by suction from the interior of the bellows contacting it through the openings 25C and 28a check valve action is essentially the same in all forms of the invention, but that the action of the pressure uid control valves are so diierent as to warrant a brief comparison or their actions.

. In Figs. 1 and 4, the valve 3a seats in the direction of the pressure fluid ilow and the .force of falling liquid slugs in the eduction tube acts to unseat the pressure iluid control valve by exerting force under it.

In Fig. '7, this action is reversed. The ilow or pressure fluid is in the opposite direction from the seating movement of this valve and the force 5 of falling slugs act on top of the valve to seat it momentarily with greater force. In this respect, the construction shown in Fig. 7 becomes the preferred embodiment.

Itfis apparent that the valve la will be urged 10 to unseat quicker in Figs. 1 and 4 than in Fig. 7, but that the check valves can be made to delay this movemnt in all forms or the invention until after the dilierentlal disturbances have subsided. such disturbances being of short duration.

Obviously, many minor changes may be `made and mechanical equivalents substituted for the parts shown. and I reserve the right to make such changes and substitutions within the scope oi' the stated objects and appended claims.

a What is claimed is:

1. In a iiowing device for wellsa valve body, a housing closed except for openings at 11% upper and lower ends and a passage from said housing into said body, a bellows diaphragm in said housing having its lower end sealably engaging the housing, the outer surface thereof being contacted through said upper openings with fluid pressure applied exteriorly of the body and housing, a restricted passage from the interior of said diaphragm to iluid pressure in said body, a valve at the lower end oflsaid diaphragm and attached to the free end thereof to control the flow of pressure fluid through said first mentioned passage, a constricted upper outlet port from the. interior of said bellows diaphragm to the interior of the housing, and a leak valve in said outlet port adapted to close yas said bellows is contracted. y

2. In a iiowing device for wells, 'a valve bodyl 40 having a tubular housing thereon, a passage from the lower end of said housing to the interior of said body, air or gas inlet openings adjacent the upper and lower ends of' said housing, abellows diaphragm in said housing, a compression spring in said diaphragniya stationary plug to which the lower end of said diaphragm has a sealing connection, said plug having an axial opening, a movable upper plug supported upon and sealing the upper end of said 'diaphragm except for a 50 vent opening therethrough, a downwardly closing valve in said vent opening, a valve stem on said upper plug projecting-downwardly through said axial opening, a valve on said stem controlling the passage of pressure fluid to and from'said 55 housing and the interior of said body, the said valve stem ttlng loosely through the axial opening in said stationary plug thereby providing a` passage ofgas from a point adjacent the passage into said tube to the interior oi' said diaphragm. 60

3. A stage lift device for attachment 'to-an eduction tube including, a' valve body, a tubular body, the iiuid pressure on the interior of ,l body when said valve is open.

housing lhaving openingsY therein adjacent its upper and lower ends. a passage from said housing to the interior of said body, a bellows diaphragm in said housing, means supported upon and closing the upper end said diaphragm, a vent opening in said closing means, an outwardly opening check valve in said vent opening, a lower stationary plug in said housingfthelowerfend of said Idiaphragm having a sealing support thereon, a stem on said upper closing means ex'- tending loosely through an axial opening in said lower plug, a valve on said stem controlling the passage of iiuid to and from the interior oi said d hragm having a vent to the interior o .taille "4." In allow device for wells, a valve body, a tubular housing thereon having a passage to seid body, a bellows diaphragm in said housing, a plug in said housing forming a stationary support tor the lower end of said diaphragm, an upper plug on said diaphragm, a vent passage Irointhe interior or said diaphragm to the outside thereof.' an outwardly opening chack valve in said vent passage, a stem secured to and movable with said i upper plug, said stemV extending freely through an axial opening in said lower support, e valve on said stem controlling the passage to said body; and means in said diaphragm normally holding said valve in open position.

5. In a ilow valve for wells, a valve'body, a valve housing on said body. a fluid passagefrom said housing to the interior of said body, there being fluid openings in said housing, a valve chamber at the lower end of said housing tapered downwardly to said passage, a fluid chamber in said housing, a baffle separating said chambers, a valve in said valve chambenmeans responsive to differential fluid pressures outside and inside said body to movesald valve relative' to said passage, means to-slow down the opening movement -ot said valve, and means tending to hold said valve normally open.

6. In a flow valve for wells, a valve body, a valve housing on said body, a iluid .passage from said housing to said body, there being fluid -openings in said housing, a valve chamber at the lower end of said housing tapered downwardly tosaid passage, a iiuld chamber in said housing, a baile separating said chambers, a valve in said'valve chamber, means responsive to diiferential nuid pressures-outside and inside said tube to move said ,valve relative to said passage, a tapered area on said valve to engage on the upper end of said passage, a convexly taperedextension belowsaid tapered area to meter the owof pressure fluid as said valve moves toward closed position, means to slowi down the opening movement of said valve, and means tending to hold said valve normally Open.

ALEXANDER IBOYFTON'` 

